IOC Code of Professional Standards

The criteria for corporate membership of the Institute of Carpenters are exacting and before being accepted, companies must conclusively prove their competence. Part of these criteria is a commitment to the IOC’s Continuing Professional Development scheme and its Code of Professional Standards which states that corporate members must:

Perform professionally, competently and responsiblyTo ensure the work carried out by their employees and sub-contractors is done with due regard to technical quality, appropriate insurance cover, and the interests of all concerned; communicating and performing in an acceptable standard; and with a duty of care to all concerned.

Safeguard the public interest in matters of health and safetyTake all reasonable care to avoid damaging the environment or creating any danger of death, injury or ill-health to any person or damage to property.

Comply with all relevant laws, regulations, standards and codesWork in accordance with the relevant statutory requirements and conform to the appropriate British/European Standards and Codes.

Broaden, improve and maintain the skills, knowledge and personal qualities of all their staffKeep up-to-date with developments in the carpentry and associated areas of work by encouraging your employees and sub-contractors to participating in Continuing Professional Development and other relevant training activities.

Uphold the dignity, standing and reputation of the Institute of CarpentersAct professionally and adopt a form of behaviour that will not cause offence or embarrassment to others.

carrying out work with due regard to technical quality, in the interests of the client and dealing expeditiously with complaints and the Institute’s complaints procedure

Communicating

utilising the appropriate form of written or verbal communication to ensure all concerned are kept fully informed at all times

Competently

means the ability to perform to an acceptable standard

Responsibly

means a duty of care to all concerned

Work

means activities relating to carpentry and associated crafts

Supervise

means being responsible for the work and professionalism of others

Appropriate insurance cover

means such insurance cover, including without limitation Public liability and Professional Indemnity Insurance, covering such risks and up to such levels as would be considered appropriate for the nature of the member’s business

2) Safeguard the environment and public health and safetyCompanies must take all reasonable care to avoid causing damage to the environment, or creating any death, injury or ill health to any person or damage to property arising from their employees or sub-contractors work.

3) Comply with all relevant laws, regulations, standards and codesThe Institute expects all Corporate Members to work in accordance with the statutory requirements applicable to carpentry and in addition to conform with British/European Standards and Codes.

4) Maintain, improve and broaden their skills, knowledge and personal qualitiesIf work is to be performed “professionally”, “competently” and “responsibly” Corporate members need to, and actively encourage their employees and sub-contractors to, keep up-to-date with developments in the industries employing carpentry and associated craft skills. The generic term for this is “Professional Development” which can take numerous forms, but is not limited to, attendance at Branch technical meetings, manufacturer’s seminars and courses, relevant evening courses, reading technical literature and maintaining a technical library, involvement with other professional and kindred bodies. The Institute plans, in the near future, to develop a systematic approach to Professional Development

5) Uphold the dignity, standing and reputation of the Institute of CarpentersTo maintain the Institute’s good name and that of the industry generally, Corporate member’s employees and sub-contractors, in the course of their work, are expected to act professionally and adopt a form of behaviour that will not cause offence or embarrassment to others.